PRIZE winners at next year's Penwortham gala could be leaving with a toy instead of the traditional goldfish-in-a-bag.

It follows a complaint to South Ribble Borough Council about the use of the animals as prizes.

Now the matter is being looked into by Penwortham Town Council and the move could see the live prizes scrapped from the fair in the future.

South Ribble Borough Council leader and Penwortham town councillor, Howard Gore, said: "As a campaigner for two animal rights groups I feel the use of animals as prizes at fairs or any other type of event is Victorian.

"Had I known there were fish I would have taken steps to make sure they weren't given out."

Organisers of the annual Penwortham gala, held on Hurst Grange Park -- land owned by the borough council -- say they were unaware that the sale of animals was taking place.

A spokesman for the gala said: "The committee had no idea they were being given away.

"We may well go along with the borough council policies in future."